JERICHO — As freshmen and sophomores, Brad Adair and Sean Springer came off the bench for the Mount Mansfield Union High School boys varsity soccer team.

As juniors, naturally, the forwards were inserted into the starting lineup at the start of this season, prepared to lead an improved Cougars squad.

“You are either going to prove yourself or fall flat,” said longtime MMU coach Phil Jacobs about third-year players in general, “and I think they have gotten off to a good start.”

That’s putting it mildly.

Adair has racked up five goals and seven assists while Springer has struck for four goals and added five assists for a high-powered MMU attack that has scored 16 times during a 3-0 start.

“I am pleased. They are recognizing their opportunities and making good decisions in terms of their runs without the ball and their shot selections,” Jacobs said. “They are letting it go and they are finding the net and scoring some nice goals this year.”

For a proud program that dealt with back-to-back losing seasons and no playoff victories, the duo’s high finishing rate has put the Cougars among the Metro contenders again.

“I knew we were going to do great things, but not this great. It’s crazy,” Springer said.

Added Adair: “Every opportunity we get we usually score. We’ve just been finishing a lot better than last year. This is our chance to do really well this year and maybe make it to the finals or something like that.”

Waiting their turn to lead the offense, Springer said the early rush of goals is a product of team chemistry.

“Me and Brad work so well together and our teammates play us great balls through the middle,” Springer said. “It’s really just the team, not me and Brad at all … but we get the spotlight.”

And while they provided a goal apiece in the overtime win over defending champion South Burlington last week, it was Alec Eschholz who tallied the winner, an example of the Cougars’ balance.

“We knew going into this season this was going to be our year,” Springer said. “Brad and I don’t care who’s scoring the goals, as long as it’s going in the back of the net.”

Other players stepping will be a key if MMU hopes to continue its positive results. Jacobs expects teams to establish game plans for his emerging forwards.

“The more that they score and prove themselves, the more attention they are going to get,” Jacobs said. “Then that’s the next test. Once everybody is aware of what you’re doing, then can you get by that hurdle?”

Springer said he and Adair are prepared for such scenarios, because he’s confident in his teammates’ ability to finish, too.

“If they zero in on us, we have players behind us who can put the ball in the net. It won’t matter,” Springer said.